Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following:

— supports the Government on its ongoing implementation of the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008;

— notes that the key finding of the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy in 2005 was that the current aims and objectives of the strategy are fundamentally sound and that progress was being made across the four pillars of the strategy;

— recognises the significant work being done under the four pillars of the national drugs strategy, supply reduction, prevention, treatment and research and the decision to include a fifth pillar of rehabilitation to further focus initiatives in that area;

— welcomes the significant increase in funding provided this year for drugs initiatives;

— commends the partnership approach to tackling the drugs issue across Departments, agencies and the community and voluntary sectors;

— commends the Health Services Executive on its role in developing appropriate responses to problematic drug use through significantly increased treatment services;

— commends the level of success of the Garda and customs services in relation to drug seizures and the work of the Garda in countering drugs misuse on a countrywide basis and in a spirit of partnership with local communities;

— endorses the initiatives outlined in the recently published Irish Prison Service drugs strategy Keeping Drugs Out of Prisons;

— endorses the national action plan against poverty and social inclusion and the five year educational plan, Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, which commenced in 2005;

— welcomes the all-island initiatives in relation to the problem of drug misuse in Ireland; and

— supports the Minister of State, Deputy Ahern, in his wholehearted commitment to, and successful handling of, the Government's drive against the problems of drug misuse in our society.

I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak to the House on the Government's response to the problems of drug misuse. Tackling drug misuse is an international issue and it is obviously not an easy task. The United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime estimated that the value of the global illicit drug market for 2003 was over $429 billion. It has been claimed that, after oil and arms, the illegal drug market is the third most profitable in the world. The key drivers of the market include both economic factors and the attitude of societies towards illicit drug consumption.

The economics of drug trafficking make it a particularly attractive activity for criminal organisations. The Celtic tiger phenomenon has both increased the attractiveness of Ireland as a market for those involved in the drugs trade as well as increasing the demand among our citizens. Globalisation has caused international trade in goods and services to increase exponentially over the past decade making it easier for criminal networks to conceal illicit commodities, including drugs, within legitimate freight. As a small open economy, Ireland is particularly vulnerable. The sheer scale of the challenges posed can be demonstrated by the fact that in 2004 an estimated 20.3 million passengers passed through the State's principal airports. Similarly in 2004, approximately 336,000 vehicles and 23.5 million tonnes of freight passed through the eight principal ports, the latter figure representing almost four tonnes of freight for every citizen of this State. That shows the difficulties that exist for the law enforcement agencies.

The use of drugs, particularly strongly addictive substances such as heroin and cocaine, has numerous social and economic costs. Costs such as drug related deaths, blood borne disease and other health consequences, are only part of the picture. The costs of drug misuse affect the individual, the family, the community and the State. No country has overcome the drugs problem. Neither the relatively heavy-handed approach in the United States nor the softer touch of the Netherlands has resulted in a drug-free population. There are no fully tested models to use and there are no quick and easy answers. However, Ireland's national drugs strategy, which runs until 2008, demonstrates the Government's commitment to address drug misuse in a proactive and decisive manner. The strategy's balanced and complementary focus on disrupting the operation of the drug market, reducing drug-related harm and helping those most in need, continues to be objectively valid.

There are encouraging signs of progress over the past couple of years in the areas of drug seizures, the expansion of treatment services and prevention programmes in schools. The landscape has changed very significantly in recent years and we must all acknowledge the work that is being done and the progress that is being made.

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